Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona secured a valuable 2-1 victory over 10-man Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou this evening.
In an ill-tempered game which featured 11 yellow cards and one red card, Atletico's valiant resistance was broken in the second half when Luis Suarez was afforded a simple tap-in from six yards.
Atletico had much the better of the opening exchanges, exposing Gerard Pique on a number of occasions while Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann looked a constant threat.
It was to be Torres who would break the deadlock, his neat finish through the legs of Marc-Andre ter Stegen constituted his 11th career goal against Barcelona and his sixth at the Camp Nou.
Atletico's Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring the opening goal. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
It was just four minutes after this that he would pick up his first yellow of the game for a barge on Neymar.
Had common sense prevailed, the former Liverpool striker would not have unnecessarily lunged in on Javier Mascherano around the halfway line. This, however, was not the case and the Spaniard was dismissed on 35 minutes.
Referee Felix Brych turns away after showing a red card to Atletico's Fernando Torres. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez).
Barcelona huffed and puffed in the second half, efforts from Neymar rebounding off the crossbar and bending just the wrong side of the post.
Just after the hour mark Atletico's resistance was finally broken, with Suarez left with a simple tap-in.
With Diego Simeone's side on the ropes, Barcelona went for the jugular and landed another devastating blow to the visitors just 10 minutes later.
Suarez celebrates his second goal of the evening. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Suarez dropped deep to collect the ball and sprayed his pass wide for Dani Alves, who's pinpoint cross completed the one-two and the Uruguayan's powerful header flew past to Jan Oblak.
Despite coughing up a valuable away goal, Barcelona have left themselves in a good position to progress and remain on track for a second consecutive treble.
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